(By Chioma Nwamah-Ahamefula)
The Anambra State Governor Prof.. Charles Chukwuma Soludo (CFR) today, January 16, 2025, hosts the Igbo Jewish-Americans visiting Anambra to trace their ancestral roots.
The Igbo Jewish Americans who are of dark and light skin colours said they traced their DNAs to not just Africa but Anambra.
Gladly welcoming them home on behalf of the Governor, Prof . Soludo during their courtesy visit to his office at the Government house, the Deputy Governor, Dr. OnyekaChukwu Ibezim appreciated them for coming home, stressing the importance of tracing ones root.
On describing Anambra as a construction site as a result of the work going on in the state by the Governor, the Deputy Governor reiterated that ndi Anambra are hard-working people. He expressed optimism for human capital development opportunities that can be explored via symbiotic synergy with them stressing that they are lucky to have traced their root back to not just Africa but Anambra State.
The Deputy Governor encouraged them to make their visit permanent, gave support to those who may need to pick life partner from this visit and sympathized with them over the devastating Los Angeles fire outbreaks.
The leader of the delegation, Mr. Yehudah Webster who is married to an Anambra woman as a result of his first visit, expressed delight over his second time of visiting the state this time with his parents. He on behalf of the team, thanked God for tracing his root home. Mr Webster expressed gladness to connect to his people. According to him,” We are here to connect to our ancestral land. To learn more about the igbo history, customs, and traditions . We are here to learn and to connect. We are happy to be here. “
In his introductory speech, the Commissioner for Tourism , Anambra State, Mr. Don Onyenji stated that the group descended from our ancestors whose forefathers during the 1880s were forcefully taken to foreign land mostly for slave trade.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism, Mr Bob Manuel Udokwu, in his speech, described Anambra as the light of the nation, stressing that it is an outstanding state that has many firsts in meaningful ventures. He re-echoed the importance of tracing ones origin saying “if you do not know where the rain starts to beat, you, you might not know where it will stop beating you.” (Igbo edage)
In her vote of thanks the coordinator of the group Mrs Nnoduka pledges the state government to provide the Igbo Jewish-Americans with land that way they can be propelled to think and invest in the state.
Later on, the team was entertained with a cultural dance to their delight at the Raspberry Park Okpuno, where the Deputy Governor, on behalf of the Governor Prof. Soludo commissioned the newly built entertainment centre that was attracted to the state by him and proudly owned by onye Anambra.
~Chioma Nwamah-Ahamefula (JP) writes from the Office of the Deputy Governor, Anambra State.
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